Please take the time to inform yourselves, neighbors, family, and friends. Stay a step ahead with the latest info and practical tips from the nation’s consumer protection agency. Browse the FTC scam alerts by topic by clicking the following link;
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts
Residents are also asked to keep a close eye on their financial affairs. Recently, we have had two instances where residents’ home equity lines of credit where accessed and attempted to be withdrawn from imposters within the US.
Frequent scams:
IRS Scam
As we approach the close of tax filing season, residents are cautioned of the IRS scam. Scammers call people in an attempt to have them wire money to satisfy an outstanding IRS debt they owe. These criminals claim to be IRS agents threatening to arrest people, suspend their driver’s license or increase a debt that they already have if they do not make immediate payment. They may require payment through a prepaid debit card or wiring funds through Western Union.
Things to look for in the IRS scam;
- Scammers may know personal information such as last 4 digits of SSN
- Scammers may use fake names and bogus IRS badge numbers
- Scammers may alter caller ID’s to reflect IRS shows up on victims caller ID
- Scammers may follow phone calls up with fake emails
The IRS initiates business through the US mail. If you feel you may have an outstanding issue with the IRS, please initiate a phone call to the IRS by calling 1.800.829.1040.
Please be aware of other scams, unfortunately, scams have been surfacing for years and most likely will continue. Our only defense against these criminals are being ahead of their criminal ways and to stay informed.
Grandparent Scam;
- A grandparent receives a phone call (or sometimes an e-mail) from a “grandchild.” If it is a phone call, it’s often late at night or early in the morning when most people aren’t thinking that clearly. Usually, the person claims to be traveling in a foreign country and has gotten into a bad situation, like being arrested for drugs, getting in a car accident, or being mugged…and needs money wired ASAP. And the caller doesn’t want his or her parents told.
- Sometimes, instead of the “grandchild” making the phone call, the criminal pretends to be an arresting police officer, a lawyer, a doctor at a hospital, or some other person. And we’ve also received complaints about the phony grandchild talking first and then handing the phone over to an accomplice…to further spin the fake tale.
- We’ve also seen military families victimized: after perusing a soldier’s social networking site, a con artist will contact the soldier’s grandparents, sometimes claiming that a problem came up during military leave that requires money to address.
While it’s commonly called the grandparent scam, criminals may also claim to be a family friend, a niece or nephew, or another family member.
Lottery/Sweepstakes Scam
- You receive a letter, email or text message saying you have won a prize in a lottery or sweepstakes that you did not even enter.
You are asked to send a fee or bank account details to collect your prize. Legitimate lotteries do not require you to pay a fee to collect winnings. - A full street address is not given. Instead, a post office (PO) box number, email address or mobile phone number is provided as a contact point.
- The sender claims that they have identified you as a winner by randomly choosing your email address. Official lottery offices do not select prize winners this way nor do they use email to advise players that a prize has been won. Sweepstake scammers email as many people as they can.
Public awareness is the only way to eliminate these scams. Here are some general tips to avoid scams and identity theft:
- Do not wire money to anyone
- Do not open unsolicited emails
- Take your time and do not let someone rush you into making a bad decision
- If it seems suspicious, it usually is, when in doubt call your police dept.
- Review your social media profiles and make sure your personal and family information is not public. (Grandparent Scam)
- Shred your personal information, this is another gateway to becoming a victim of fraud and scams
- Be skeptical do not trust anyone, report anything you think is suspicious to your local police.
- Obtain an annual credit report, you’re entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies. Order online from www.annualcreditreport.com, the only authorized website for free credit reports, or call 1-877-322-8228. You will need to provide your name, address, social security number, and date of birth to verify your identity.